Ebola outbreak

(Photo: Reuters)WHO's emergencies chief, Dr. Peter Salama, called it a "sad toll" as Congo's health ministry announced that the number of cases has reached 426. That includes 379 confirmed cases and 47 probable ones. So far this outbreak, declared on August 1st, has resulted in 198 confirmed deaths, with another 47 probable ones, Congo's health ministry said. North Kivu province, which includes the cities Beni, Kalunguta and Mabalako, remains the epicenter of the outbreak, though cases have been reported in neighboring Ituri province, according to WHO. The two provinces are among the most populated in the nation, and border Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. Congo has suffered 10 Ebola outbreaks since the first reported case of Ebola occurred in the DRC in 1976 in an outbreak that killed at least 280 people. The worst Ebola epidemic ended in West Africa two years ago, after killing more than 11,300 people and infecting about 28,600 across Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Ebola, … [Read more...] about Congo’s Ebola outbreak now 2nd largest in history, WHO says

(Photo: EPA-EFE)“I am cautiously optimistic that we shall be able to bring it to an end soon," General Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added. He had also tweeted, "It's far too early to declare victory in the Ebola outbreak. But the signals are positive and we are cautiously optimistic.” His comments come after the WHO and NGOs since May 21st began helping the DRC immunize front-line workers with a vaccine that has shown to be highly effective in trials, though it still awaits regulatory approval. A total of 1,369 people have received the experimental vaccine since May 21st. Earlier, the WHO had prepared to deploy 4,000 doses of Ebola vaccine in the DRC to control the outbreak. “We’re working on the deployment of these materials, especially readying the cold chain,” WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti said. “The start date of the vaccinations will depend on this deployment.” DRC’s Minister of Health Oly Ilunga on May 10th … [Read more...] about WHO optimistic on ending Ebola outbreak in Congo

KINSHASA — The director general of the World Health Organisation said Sunday he believed a swift end could be put to the outbreak of Ebola in northwestern DR Congo, some 21 days which has left 27 people dead over the past month. "I am cautiously optimistic that we shall be able to bring it to an end soon," Doctor Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at Kinshasa airport. Earlier, he had tweeted that "it’s far too early to declare victory in the #Ebola outbreak. But the signals are positive and we are cautiously optimistic." His comments come after the WHO and NGOs since May 21 began helping the Democratic Republic of Congo immunise front-line workers with a vaccine that has shown to be highly effective in trials, though it still awaits regulatory approval. A total of 1,369 people have received the experimental vaccine since May 21, the ministry said last Wednesday. Tedros is on an "evaluation" visit to the country as the WHO monitors the progress of surveillance … [Read more...] about WHO predicts Ebola outbreak in DR Congo could end soon

The Ebola epidemic hits the Democratic Republic of Congo in South Africa, killing 27 people as of May 31. Photo by Reuters Low risk of virus spreading from southern Africa, but preventive action needed, Health Ministry says. The Vietnamese health sector has been put on high alert following reports of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo in southern Africa that had killed 27 people as of May 31. The Public Health Emergency Operations Center on Thursday convened a meeting with the Ministry of Heath to discuss ways to prevent the disease from breaking out in Vietnam. Health officials urged authorities to step up control at border gates so that any infection could be detected early by screening people coming Ebola-affected areas. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ebola outbreak in Congo has reached an alarming level, considerably increasing the risk of the virus spreading to neighboring countries. While Vietnam faces “very low” … [Read more...] about Vietnam tightens border gate controls to preempt Ebola outbreak

Photo for illustration (Source: AFP)Last month, the DRC’s Ministry of Health announced that at least 17 people have died since inhabitants of a village in the country’s northwest began showing symptoms resembling Ebola. However, those cases were not confirmed through testing. The World Health Organisation and officials from other international health groups are now in the area to help contain the spread of the deadly virus. This is the ninth time Ebola has been recorded in the DRC. The first reported case of Ebola occurred in the DRC in 1976 in an outbreak that killed at least 280 people. The worst Ebola epidemic ended in West Africa two years ago after killing more than 11,300 people and infecting about 28,600 across Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Ebola, one of the deadliest viruses known to man, is spread through direct contact, and it can also be transmitted through sexual contact or unprotected handling of contaminated corpses./. Compiled by BTA … [Read more...] about Congo confirms first death in latest Ebola outbreak